A short film highlighting the history of immigrant communities in the fens is set to be premiered in East Cambridgeshire later this month.

Ely Standard: Rich Soil Rich Heritage was shot at locations across CambridgeshireRich Soil Rich Heritage was shot at locations across Cambridgeshire (Image: Archant)

Rich Soil Rich Heritage, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was set up to examine how East Cambs and the surrounding fens has been influenced by the many different groups of people who have come to the area to work.

From 17th Century Dutch drainage engineers to Second World War German and Italian Prisoners of War and Polish fighter pilots, the project looks at how their work has helped shape the area.

The Rich Soil Rich Heritage film is a blend of documentary style interviews and presenter pieces and dramatic costumed reconstructions of aspects of the areas history.

Everyone in the film is a local volunteer and it features babies to people in their nineties.

Hetti Wood, who helped run the project, said: “Locations we used included Ely Golf Club, Oliver Cromwell’s House, Earith, Sutton Gault, Witcham, Bottisham, Soham and Prickwillow.

“We recreated scenes featuring wartime American airmen meeting local girls and German prisoners working the land and interacting with local people. A well-known local councillor also features playing Vermuyden, the Dutchman who masterminded the drainage of the Fens.”

The film will be shown, free of charge, in venues around the region accompanied by an exhibition about the Rich Soil Rich Heritage project.

The Rich Soil Rich Heritage film and exhibition will be on:

Wednesday, July 23, in Witcham Village Hall, from 7pm.

Thursday, July 24, in Burwell House, from 7pm.

Saturday, July 26, in Littleport Village Hall, from 2pm.

Sunday, July 27, Performing Arts Centre, in Soham, from 2pm.

For more information call 01353 722228 or e-mail info@richsoilrichheritage.org.uk The project website is www.richsoilrichheritage.org.uk